Laboratory Director

Job Overview

The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health Laboratory, requires a laboratory director who will serve as the overall director of Environmental and Clinical Operations and as the high‑complexity CLIA laboratory director. This position is aided by a team of two assistant directors and program managers over Grants and Risk Management, Quality Assurance, Business Operations, and Support Services.

The laboratory consists of the central laboratory in Baton Rouge and satellite labs in Amite, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The central lab performs environmental as well as clinical laboratory testing. The lab is certified by the EPA, FDA, CLIA, and ISO 17025. The central laboratory is located in a 67,546 square foot building near the state capitol grounds in Baton Rouge.

The laboratory performs environmental and clinical testing. The clinical arena consists of Newborn Screening, Microbiology, Infectious Disease and Emerging pathogens, and Virology and Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Functions of the job will be to provide executive direction of the statewide public health laboratory system, oversee scientific and technical aspects of the laboratory system, develop and oversee the operating budget, provide direction of personnel functions within the laboratory, and interact and consult with state agencies, local officials, and the general public when required.

Three years of the required experience at or above the supervisory level with the following minimum qualification:

• A doctorate degree in biological, environmental, or chemical science plus five years of experience in a biological laboratory, chemical laboratory, or environmental laboratory.
• In addition, the incumbent must have and maintain a current, valid license to practice as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist or Specialist issued by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.

The incumbent must have or be eligible to obtain a Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Clinical Laboratory Generalist or Specialist license prior to employment.